An Action Research Project

“… credit for patients … who … declined to complete the … TOP”

 10/17/2007 email from Patricia Papernow Ed.D. to people who signed group letter.

 

I just carefully read the BCBS letter offering me a second "chance" to join the TOP program.  It says that "based on provider, professional society and association feedback" they will  "ease the transition for providers and their patients" by allowing me to "receive credit for patients who have been invited to participated but declined to complete the ....TOP between August 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008."  (Italics are mine.)

 

In other words, their "responsiveness" consists of allowing patients to place only their name on the TOP and not fill out the form.  But even with that, only UNTIL March 31, 2008.  That is responsiveness to our concerns??  Yikes.

 

I am afraid that the letter reads awfully like a sales pitch:

 

 "According to our records, you did not register for our ....Program by July 31, 2007 and are therefore ineligible for the higher fee schedule(s) available for the 2008 calendar year.  If you register with BHL and submit the enclosed form to BCBSMA by October 31, 2007, your request will be approved and you will be paid at the higher fee schedule(s) available for the 2008 calendar year. "  (Bold type is theirs, not mine.) 

 

Patricia Papernow

 

 

10/10/2007 letter from Marilyn A. Austin, Ph.D., LCSW-C

 

Hello Frank,

 

This is as outrageous as the earlier attemp by insurance companies to "encourage" no referral to a specialist - including for mental health treatment - with a monitary incentive for the PCP. My thought about fighting this is that pressure on the various receptive political candidates who are actively talking about health care, may have some benefit. Hillary, in particular, as well as Edwards and Obama, etc. are making health care platform statements. They might very well be interested in this type of violation of the concepts of privacy and the necessary steps of therapy --- indeed, the whole nature of Therapy.

 

Marilyn A. Austin, Ph.D., LCSW-C